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It's official: Storm that hit Minneapolis was a tornado

Crews surveyed holes in schools,
churches and homes and cleared away toppled trees, downed power
lines and shattered glass Thursday, the day after tornadoes and
severe storms marched through the Midwest.

While the National Weather Service assessed how many tornadoes
touched down from Minnesota to Indiana, insurance adjusters and
building inspectors made the rounds, and utilities worked to
restore power to tens of thousands of customers.

The National Weather Service confirms that a tornado touched down in south Minneapolis on Wednesday, then moved north toward downtown.

The weather service has damage assessment teams on the ground in
the area. They will determine the tornado's intensity and the width
and length of its path on the ground.

A preliminary damage assessment by the American Red Cross on
Wednesday evening found that 40 homes in the area suffered at least
some damage during the storm.

The weather service says it has two other assessment teams on
the ground checking out reports of tornados. One team is in Brown
and Blue Earth counties, the other is in western Wisconsin checking
out reports in St. Croix County.

Downed treesPhoto courtesy of Twitter user @Wmharrison

The storm damage at the North Branch Middle School caused
officials to call off the final day of summer school and ponder how
they'd handle the start of regular classes about two weeks from
now.

A suspected tornado dented the roof - causing ceiling tiles,
supports, pipes and some cinder blocks to give way and leaving
pooled water inside.

"We're doing everything in our power to make sure school starts
on time," said Patrick Tepoorten, spokesman for the district 40
miles north of St. Paul.

Patti Blegen said her 12-year-old daughter and her friends have
been eagerly anticipating the start of seventh grade at the middle
school. Now mother and daughter are waiting to hear how it will
play out.

"They're really looking forward to starting," Blegen said.
"Even though kids say they don't want to go back, they do have
enough of summer. When summer's done, they're done."

Damage to Central Lutheran ChurchMPR Photo/Jeffrey Thompson

Residential damage was the primary concern in Minneapolis, the
most densely populated of the storm-struck areas.

A tornado tore
off part of a 90-year-old metal church steeple and left a hole in
the roof of the city Convention Center, where the Evangelical
Lutheran Church in America was holding its national convention.

Back in North Branch, the middle school was deemed off-limits to
the public. Outside, two sets of metal bleachers had collapsed and
a few snapped-off pine trees lay near the playground.

Tepoorten said all or part of the middle school might stay
closed for repairs after classes start on Sept. 8.

State Rep. Jeremy Kalin said he got a quick look at the damage
after Wednesday's storm.

"Our hope is that we can, worst case, close off that wing and
be able to use the rest of the building," he said.